Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Tondera.
Hi Kristen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I have always had a passion for food art, especially with sweets! This particular journey started when my mother would send my family caramel apples that were decorated so cute! They were super adorable but tasted just okay. My mother kept trying to plant the seed for me to learn how to perfect caramel apples and put my spin on them. I said “No” numerous times. I was currently a pediatric RN for Neurology/Neurosurgery at Texas Children’s Hospital and had no intentions on ever leaving. I loved my job, my work family, and all the families I encountered along the way. During Covid, our shifts were cut at the hospital, and we did not work many hours- which led to me having free time to fail at making caramel until I got it just right. This caramel apple business was never meant to be what it is today. I laugh as I say that because truth is, that’s what I thought- but God knows his plans for each and every one of us. As I ventured into this new journey, I started becoming busier and busier which led to me working mini part-time at the hospital and spending more time with the caramel apples and candies. On July 4, 2021- my life forever changed. My husband was involved in a fatal accident on his way home from work. Our children were 2 and 7 at the time of the accident. It makes me cringe just saying that. He was my everything, the most amazing husband and father. He supported me throughout this journey and was my #1 fan! During my grievance period, I, unfortunately, received the news that I would be terminated when I came back to work given that my husband and I made the choice that getting the Covid vaccine wasn’t the right choice for us. My world had been flipped upside down, and I didn’t even know how to put one foot in front of the other. During my time at the hospital, I had the pleasure of encountering a prophet (the mother to a child I was caring for). Long story short, she had given me a word from God and wrote it down on a piece of paper. Nothing in that letter made sense at the time, even though she had validated so many things. She told me that it wouldn’t make sense today, tomorrow, or the next few weeks, but in the next couple months it would all make sense to me. I had even read the entire letter to my husband, and we had no idea what it meant. She mentioned someone would pass away- never in my wildest dream would I have ever thought it would be my husband. In that letter, she also mentioned that I wouldn’t be on this job long, my next shift would be my best shift ever, and that the business would be blessed by the working of my hands. That next shift was my BEST shift I ever had! Sadly, to the day-exactly 2 months later-was my husband’s accident. As much as I wish life was different and he was still here with us, those words from God gave me a piece of peace. It taught me to lean on God for everything because he will never leave nor forsake you even in the darkest of days. Prior to my husband’s accident, we had gone to a food trailer manufacturer, and he designed a food trailer for me. The quote was finalized the week of his accident, and I just had to put the business on hold while I navigated my way through grief. In October of 2021, I slowly started my way back to caramel apples and had the most amazing support from my town of Bellville, Texas! In May of 2022, I picked up the food trailer that my husband designed. It was such a bittersweet proud moment. In all that I do, I strive to make my husband proud. Ever since we opened the doors of the food trailer- we have been serving our community and the areas around us with the best caramel apples and candies around! The one thing that I hope readers take away from my story is that God is amazing, and if you trust in him wholeheartedly, everything will come to fruition. Our plans are not the same as God’s plans- for example, I have 3 degrees, and here I am following God’s words and serving up some pretty awesome sweets- and I couldn’t be happier doing so!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. Perfecting the caramel took a lot of trial and error…but it was all worth it! My husband passing away very tragically was one of the biggest struggles, but striving to make him proud of me every day is what has lead to the success of this business, along with trusting in God.
As you know, we’re big fans of Southern Core Gourmet Caramel Apples. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Southern Core specializes in Gourmet Caramel Apples, but we also offer a variety of caramel candies, rolled ice cream, freeze-dried candies, bundtlette cakes, and more. What sets us apart from others is, hands down–our CARAMEL!! We use no preservatives, and the caramel is made from scratch in small batches to ensure a high-quality product! Being from a small, southern town- our name is the perfect branding of a southern caramel apple business. Our products are all packaged with high-quality packaging that is ready to be gifted! We have our home base in Bellville, Texas at Sartain’s Awesome Shoppe. which is located across from The Hill and The Bellville Chamber of Commerce. We also have traveled to Waco, Tomball, Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Houston, Chappell Hill, Tyler, and many more areas.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The entire town of Bellville has been such a tremendous support system for Southern Core. All our social media followers have just been so amazing at following us! The Bellville Market Days is where my first debut began in November 2020. I am so thankful for the Bellville Chamber of Commerce for helping my small business, along with many others, get their start and succeed to be able to provide for our families. Sartain’s Awesome Shoppe in Bellville has been such a huge steppingstone to this business being successful! Kellie & Jason Sartain have become my best friends after my husband’s accident. They have helped me embrace and execute the vision of Southern Core through many prayers, visions, and hard work. Sartain’s Awesome Shoppe is where you can find the Southern Core food trailer most weeks!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: southerncoretx
- Facebook: southerncoretx
Image Credits
Cristy Ordner Photography
